New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
1Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised. | 1O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. |
2I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. | 2I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates. |
3His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. | 3His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. |
4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. | 4O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right. |
5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth. | 5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth. |
6Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. | 6Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. |
7Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. | 7Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned. |
8We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for? | 8We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? |
9If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar. | 9If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver to protect her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. |
10I am a wall, And my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes As one who found peace. | 10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace. |
11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit A thousand silver coins. | 11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver. |
12My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, And those who tend its fruit two hundred. | 12But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. |
13You who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice— Let me hear it! | 13You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it! |
14Make haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices. | 14Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. |
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